Vehicle signal



Fh Z6 192%. 1,484,714

J. H., KALEY VEHICLE SIGNAL Original Filed June 6, 1919 2 Sheets-sheaf, 1

INVENTOR.

H a H Haifa I ATTORNEY.

Feb, 26 1924. 3,484,734

J. H. KALEY VEHICLE SIGNAL Original Filed June 6, 1919 2 Sheets-52mm 2 J H [faZey Patented Feb. 26, 1924.

JOHN H. KALEY, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK.

VEHICLE SIGNAL.

Original application filed .Tune 6, 1919, Serial No. 302,280. Divided and this application filed August 6, 1920. Serial No. 401,633.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN H. KALEY, a citizen of the -United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Vehicle Signals; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in vehicle signals, being a division of my application filed June 6th, 1919, and serially numbered 302,280, and its primary object is the provision of means adapted to automatically close a circuit to an electric lamp when either of the signalling arms are moved into signalling position, so as to attract attention thereto and also render the characters thereon readily readable at a considerable distance and at night time.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a vehicle signal of the above stated character, which will be simple, durable, and eiiicient, and which may be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost.

lVith these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description, and accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a front elevation, illustrating a vehicle signal constructed in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the same,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the signal taken on the plane of the line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a similar view of the signal taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating a stationary member of the switch.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a casing, the front wall of which is provided with a plurality of vertically disposed and relatively spaced slots 2, to permit signalling arms 3 to swing into and out of the casing.

The signalling arms bear different characters such as Back, Stop, Right, and Left, and are journaled at their upper ends on a shaft 4 located inthe casing. The upper ends of the arms 3 have connected thereto links 5 which are in turn connected to actuating rods 6. The actuating rods 6 are slidably mounted in the casing and extend exteriorly thereof and are provided with finger grips 7. The actuating rods 6 are also provided with notches 8 adapted to engage the walls of the openings which permit the rods to extend outwardly of the casing for the purpose of holding the arms in signalling position or swung exteriorly of the casing by way of the slots 2. Springs 9 are connected to the links 5 and to the casing for the purpose of moving the arms 3 into the casing when the notches 8 are released from engagement with the walls of the openings in the casing heretofore mentioned.

A partition 10 is located in the upper portion of the casing and cooperates with a reflector 11 in forming a light compartment 12. The light compartment 12 is provided with a window 13 which permits the rays of light from the electric lamp 14 located in the compartment to shine on the signalling arms 3 when in signalling position.

The electric lamp 14 is furnished with electricity from a suitable. source and the feed wire 15 which is connected to the elec tric lamp 14 is connected to the shaft 4. The signalling arms 3 are preferably constructed of wood or any other insulating material.

Stationary contacts 16 and movable contacts 17 are located in the casing 1. The mov ble contacts 17 are secured in any desired manner to the signalling arms 3 and are provided with journal portions 19 that are journaled on the shaft 4. The stationary contacts 16 consist of a plate 20 to which the other feed wire 21 is connected is secured to the partition 10 and has formed thereon downwardly extending resilient contact fingers 22. Electric current may be supplied by any suitable source to the lamp, as from the lighting battery of the vehicle to which the signal is attached, as suggested at 21 and connected in wire 15. The contact fingers 22 are arranged between pairs of the signalling arms as clearly shown in Figure 2 and have their lower portions extended inwardly and downwardly and outwardly as shown at 23 to form contacts adapted to be engaged by the movable contacts 17 when the signalling arms are swung eXteriorly of the casing or into signalling position for the purpose or" completing an electric circuit to the electric lamp. Abutments 24 are formed on the fingers 23 adjacent their free ends and are adapted to be engaged by the movble contacts 17 when the signalling arms 8 are in signalling position. It will-be seen that upon either arm 8 moving to a horizontal position, the current will flow to the lamp 14 from batteryQl to wire 21, contact 16, contact 17, shaft 4, and wire 15.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination, and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is LA switch mechanism including a mov able arm, a conductor and a contact for disposition in an electric circuit, said arm being journaled on the conductor, a contact extending rigidly in offset relation from and movable with the arm, the latter contact being journaled on the conductor as a bearing for the arm and being adapted to bridge said conductor and said first contact to close the circuit.

2. A switch mechanism including an upwardly movable arm, a conductor and a contact for disposition in an electric circuit, said arm being journaled on the conductor, a contact extending in offset relation from and movable with the arm and journaled on the conductor to bridge said conductor and said contact to close the circuit, one of said contacts being resilient and an abutment projecting inwardly from the first mentioned contact, the secondmentioned contact being movable upwardly past said abutment and in the operative position of the arm being adapted to rest on the abutment to prevent accidental downward displacement of the arm and opening of the switch.

In testimony whereof I afiix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN -H. KALEY. Witnesses:

' OLIVE K. GREGG,

WM. GREEN. 

